SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥� It's official 鈥� almost. Soon, all seven members of the massively popular K-pop group BTS will have completed South Korea's mandatory military service.
Rapper Suga will be the last of the bandmates to be released on Saturday, after fulfilling his duty as , an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury.
BTS鈥� entertainment agency said no events are planned for Suga鈥檚 release out of concern for overcrowding.
The six others, V, Jimin, Jung Kook, Jin and j-hope, served in the army.
Earlier this month, four members of BTS 鈥� RM, Jimin and 鈥� were discharged from South Korea鈥檚 mandatory military service.
Jin, the eldest BTS member, was discharged as was j-hope .
BTS is expected to reunite later this year. Ahead of that highly anticipated homecoming, here's what you need to know about the group.
The rise of BTS
BTS 鈥� short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or 鈥淏ulletproof Boy Scouts鈥� in Korean 鈥� debuted in June 2013 under the company Big Hit Entertainment, The seven-member group consists of RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.
The group launched in 2013 with the hip-hop heavy single album 鈥�2 Cool 4 Skool," releasing three full-length projects before really gaining momentum with their 2016 album 鈥淲ings."
Their global breakthrough came in 2017 when 鈥淒NA鈥� entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve such a feat. The song鈥檚 success was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further fueling their international fan base.
The band is largely credited with bringing K-pop to the international stage, and with good reason.
Across their discography, BTS broke boundaries and records: In 2020, they released the five-time platinum 鈥淒ynamite,鈥� their first all-English single, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 鈥� a first for an all-South Korean musical act.
At the height of their popularity, BTS was not only the biggest K-pop group on the planet, but the biggest boy band overall.
Global appeal
In fact, they've been certified platinum many times over, according to The Recording Industry Association of America. Their platinum successes include:
鈥� 2018's 鈥淢ic Drop;鈥�
鈥� 2020's 鈥淢ap of the Soul: 7," 鈥淟ove Yourself: Answer,鈥� and 鈥淚dol;鈥�
鈥� 2021's 鈥淏e,鈥� and song of the summer 鈥淏utter;鈥�
鈥� and high-profile collaborations 鈥淢y Universe鈥� and 鈥淏oy With Luv鈥� featuring Halsey.
BTS has also been nominated for five Grammy Awards. for 鈥淒ynamite鈥� in the best pop duo/group performance category, marked the received a Grammy nod.
As their global popularity grew, the septet also became international advocates for social justice.
Their 2018 address to the United Nations General Assembly in partnership with UNICEF to combat violence, abuse and bullying while promoting self-esteem among young people.
The group鈥檚 commitment to human rights activism continued in 2020 when they , denouncing racial discrimination and violence. Their fan base, known the world over as ARMY, responded by matching the donation within 24 hours.
Their dual impact on music and social causes culminated in 2022 when they were invited to the White House to with President Joe Biden.
BTS' mandatory military service stirs debate
In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18 to 28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.
The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige.
K-pop stars and other entertainers aren鈥檛 subject to such privileges.
However, in 2020, BTS postponed their service until age 30 after South Korea鈥檚 National Assembly revised its Military Service Act, allowing K-pop stars to delay their enlistment until age 30.
There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group鈥檚 management agency that all seven members would fulfill their duties.
Break allows time for solo projects
BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for its members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break.
Jin released two EPs, 鈥淗appy鈥� in 2024 and 鈥淓cho鈥� in May of this year. Suga dropped his debut solo album, 鈥淒-Day,鈥� in 2023 under his moniker Agust D.
Also in 2024, RM released his second solo album, the elastic, experimental , and j-hope released an EP, 鈥淗ope on the Street Vol. 1." Earlier this year, j-hope embarked
Jimin released two projects, 2023's 鈥淔ace鈥� and 2024's 鈥淢use.鈥� V's debut album, arrived in 2023, as did Jung Kook's
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AP Music Writer Maria Sherman reported from New York.
Maria Sherman And Juwon Park, The Associated Press
